Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has agreed Australia will adhere to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's six-point roadmap to restore relations between the two countries, and also to set up a ''hotline'' to manage the details of Indonesia's withdrawal of co-operation.

Ms Bishop brought a high-level delegation of bureaucrats and advisers to meet Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natelegawa on Thursday, to begin, in her words, to ''restore the relationship'' after damage caused by phone-tapping revelations.

Ms Bishop flew to Jakarta on the way to Beijing, to talk with Mr Natalegawa. The talks were part of Dr Yudhoyono's first step on the roadmap – discussing ''sensitive issues on bilateral relations post-revelation of this tapping issue''.

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Ms Bishop committed the government for the first time to Dr Yudhoyono's six-point plan, which involves negotiating and testing a ''code of conduct'' by which the bilateral relationship — including intelligence gathering — would work in future.

Mr Natalegawa said he had spoken to the President immediately after the bilateral meeting and they would decide if Australia had done enough to fulfil the first step of disclosing ''sensitive issues''.

The second step involves the negotiation of the code itself.

Ms Bishop described this as a ''joint understanding'' to encapsulate the principles of the Lombok Treaty, signed by the two governments in 2006, in which they agreed to respect each others' territorial integrity.

Mr Natalegawa described the meetings — the first lengthy discussion with Ms Bishop alone and the second with broader groups of advisers — as open and constructive.

Asked if he was satisfied that he had received a full explanation of past spying activities, Mr Natalegawa said: ''We discussed almost everything about the incidents that brought us to this situation.''

''No. And they certainly haven't agreed to stop collecting intelligence on Australia,'' he said.

''But we are close friends, we are strategic partners and I certainly want Australia to be a trusted partner of Indonesia and I hope Indonesia can be a trusted partner of Australia.''

Mr Abbott said he expected Indonesia to co-operate in Australia's anti-people smuggling campaign because it was a ''‘sovereignty issue''.

While the details of the deal are being negotiated, the bans against co-operation with Australia in police, military and intelligence fields remain in place and will do so until the six conditions outlined by Dr Yudhoyono have been fulfilled.

The parties agreed to set up a hotline between the two ministers' offices to iron out any technical issues that arise involving the bans on bilateral co-operation.

Mr Natalegawa also left it open for Indonesian ambassador Nadjib Riphat Kesoema to return to Canberra, saying it would be done when ''it's in our best interests''.

However, he reiterated that: ''The ball is always on the Australian side, the steps are clear … to rebuild mutual trust.''

Ms Bishop reiterated the government's ''regret'' at ''events that led to this situation'' and the ''hurt caused to President Yudhoyono and the Indonesian people''.

She amplified Mr Abbott's vow not to harm Indonesian interests, saying specifically that Australian intelligence assets would not be used in this way.

Ms Bishop came to the meeting with a high-powered delegation which included the head of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and a former head of the Office of National Assessments, Peter Varghese; head of Defence Dennis Richardson and Prime Minister Tony Abbott's national security adviser, Andrew Shearer.

After negotiating a protocol, the third step of the six is for Dr Yudhoyono to consider the protocol and endorse it; the fourth for it to be signed by the two leaders. The fifth step is implementing the protocol with ''time to allow for evaluation that is has been implemented''. Step six is: ''Re-establishment and revival of a sense of trust before we can proceed to look at the bilateral co-operations.''

147 comments

Finally, a smart move by Bishop......but why couldn't Abbott do this weeks ago in front of his own population? Gutless coward........

Commenter

JT

Date and time

December 06, 2013, 4:29AM

Crap. He responded as he should and Bishop is now doing the paperwork. How the hell is it gutless not to be bullied by Indonesia when so far they have treated us with such disrespect. Give me a break.

Commenter

MEB

Location

Sydney

Date and time

December 06, 2013, 7:02AM

funny MEB...I totally see it the other way around.......we were the bullies and wouldn't respond to a victim who was standing their ground......bullies never apologise to their victims in everyday practice I believe.

Commenter

JT

Date and time

December 06, 2013, 7:15AM

Abbott talked tough, but when faced with someone that wasn't going to back down, he folded faster then Superman on laundry day.

Once a bully, always a bully, diplomatically, Indonesia calls the shots, and Abbotts says "Yes Sir". And all those that thought Abbott would stand up and run rings around Indonesia, what a let down.

Imagine exculpating a situation to the point you have to back off. Very badly handled all of this, or are there more files to be released which will prove more embarassing?

Commenter

wdawes

Date and time

December 06, 2013, 7:40AM

Gillard and/or Rudd would have sorted this problem out immediately. Abbott stumbles at every turn and has just made another gaffe re Edward 'Weary" Dunlop. He just can't help himself!

Commenter

FNQ

Location

Cairns

Date and time

December 06, 2013, 7:50AM

Typical naive luvvie clap trap, Indonesia spies on Australia, they just don't tell the Americans,who then go and tell the rest of the world about it.

Commenter

SteveH.

Date and time

December 06, 2013, 7:51AM

Abbott didn't need to say yes sir.......there are shades of grey you know....called diplomacy...he instead just ignored it to make things worse...........this wouldn't have even raised an eyebrow if Carr or Gillard was still in the job. Abbott is clearly out of his depth.......just like if you or I were put in that situation. We need skill in the top job not just a slogan bogan.

Commenter

JT

Date and time

December 06, 2013, 7:56AM

I missed that one steveH.......when did Abbott and his wife ask for an apology from the Indonesian govt because they were spying on them? Sorry missed that one.......Also missed any involvement from the Americans too....gee whiz I should keep up with the news better.....

Commenter

JT

Date and time

December 06, 2013, 8:04AM

JT, yes, you probably should, that way you might not appear to be so ill-informed.

Try googling Edward Snowden.

Commenter

SteveH.

Date and time

December 06, 2013, 8:13AM

Spot on SteveH................the Left have no idea about diplomacy..........Abbott has managed to repair the relationship without apologising for Australia's behaviour under Rudd, which has strengthened our position.